Spring gave way to autumn, and in the blink of an eye, five years had passed since the Nine-Tails incident.
That tragedy had gradually been forgotten. Aside from the villagers recalling that ominous night whenever they saw Naruto Uzumaki and consequently keeping their distance from him, everything else was no different from usual.
Naruto Uzumaki was five years old this year, old enough to enroll in Konoha's Ninja Academy.
Naturally, enrolling in school was not something one could expect a child like Naruto Uzumaki to handle himself. If he had gone alone, the ninja handling registration might not even have deemed him qualified to enroll. After all, too many ninja had died on the night of the Nine-Tails incident, and many of the teachers' parents had fallen that night.
The Third Hokage personally sent someone to register Naruto Uzumaki, then took time out of his schedule to visit Naruto Uzumaki's home and tell him about it.
Of course, even with the Third Hokage's orders, the entrance exam could not be waived. That was Konoha's rule.
Naruto Uzumaki's circumstances were special, though. Even if he performed terribly, the Third Hokage's orders would ensure his admission. That was what they called privilege.
In truth, the Third Hokage felt guilty toward Naruto Uzumaki. He believed that his own shortcomings had led to the deaths of the Fourth Hokage and Kushina.
For that reason, he hoped Naruto Uzumaki could grow up healthy. Unfortunately, Naruto Uzumaki's status as the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki was far too sensitive. If the Third Hokage had adopted him, it would have caused too much public discussion within the village. That was why he had sent Naruto Uzumaki to an orphanage as soon as he was old enough to remember things.
At noon, under crisp autumn skies, Konoha had begun to show